Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-11-14
Romance of a Rosebud.

! right IN her bamboo rocker. SIT Is
all fol-de-rol, l say for people to
think they must make up jimcracks
that nobody wants and scatter them
about among their friends"
''But it is for birthday present,
aunt"
''Well, what of that? Do you sup
pose because my birthday happens
to be coming that want any one to
give me an ungainly pin-cushion with
HIS worked in the center?''
"What if there should be three
HIS? said Lottie, slyly, remembering
old Peter Hammond's clumsy atten-
tions, with, as he admitted, ''an eye
to a snug home"
"What's that you say?" snapped
Miss Hetta.
Lottie did not venture a repetition,
but sat demurely considering what
under the stress of circumstances she
should do. Lottie was Miss Henri
etta's orphan niece, and had been a
member of her household for nearly
year. She had learned dearly to
love the prim old lady, though that
love was not unmixed with fear. Her
wants had all been kindly anticipat-
ed and generously supplied; but now
she had come to her aunt with re-
quest for few shillings to spend on
trifes, of which Miss Hetta did not
approve, and had been fatty denied.
Oh, dear, what should she do !
Harry had always bought her some
tasteful gift and she did so want to
make him a hat band for his new der
by. She had dreamed that she could
not, and had put it off till the last
moment.
The great drops welled up sudden
" in her eyes. If Miss Hetta saw
any symptoms of heart-ache, she had
had heart-aches herself, and they haC
never killed her yet. But Lottie die
not mean to drOop. Auntie was usu-
ally kind, and was albeit her only
living relative-except Harry. Well,
Harry was not a relative exactly
and, oh dear, if she could only have
a hat band
She forced back the rebellious
tears and went singing about the
house like the blithe girl she was.
The birthday morning arrived, and
the problem of Harry's present was
still unsolved. elf l could just give
him something," she sighed, looking
wistfully down the long street. "Oh," :"
she said, suddenly ,clasping her hands,
rtT I'll 7 will what q h-rrJ ~'--.--si = 49,
and she fairly jumped into her cloak
and hat and went skipping down the
street.
DIR. Beach, an eccentric bachelor,
lived in the rather lonely house at the
extreme end of the street. Lottle
was never sick herself, and Aunt
Hetta never employed DR.. Beach for
her occasional ailments; yet the
bright-hearted girl had contrived to
make the acquaintance of the uncouth
doctor, who liked her and called hel
'sLittle Miss"
'tWhat if the old man was little
gruff? he was good;'' and into his
office Lottie now went, assured of 9
warm welcome. Absorbed in hel
own interest and intent on her er-
rand she approached the bay window
where stood the great monthly rose.
bush which had been the wonder and
envy of the admiring public since al
most before Lottie was born.
s'Oh DOCTOR she said, 81 came tC
ask you if you would be so kind as tC
give me three or four of those lovely
buds?'
"What for?" growled the doctor
savagely.
"You see," she begun, 81 wanted
to make something pretty for a birth.
day gift for-for friend, but l coulC
not choking a little-Eand | haC
almost given up hope of anything
when this morning, as | glanced
, down the road, your beautiful roses
: seemed to say, Come after us, Sc
here | am. Flowers are always nice
to give, you know, and l had none.
"Humph! Why couldn't you make
what you wanted top
'sAunt Hetta wouldn't let me-
'sHumph! Is not Henrietta Hen
, shaw good to you?' he demanded
bristling up.
''Oh, yes, as kind as can be. But
she does not believe in birthday gifts,
she says"
"Hadn't you any money yourself p
"No."
sEShe might give you cent or two
from time to time; then you would
: have fund to draw from
ssOh, she does; had FIVE dollars
Monday that I had not needed tc
use. But l saw Jennie and Tommy
t Elroy, with their little bare toes peep
2 ing out of their shoes, and
5 $50 You squandered your money
to clothe the feet of those little vag-
abonds?" growled the doctor, won
dering why he had not seen the bare
toes.
eyes, I got shoes and the nicest
red stockings. Jennie cried and
cried when she hugged me because
e she was so glad" related Lottie, hel
quick tears starting.
> The doctor rubbed his knuckles vim
dictiyely in his own eyes. swell